Smart Woman - Hidden Household Hazards

Smart Woman - Hidden Household Hazards

Accidental
injuries are the leading cause of death in children and send more than 16
million kids to the E.R. each year. While you may already be taking precautions
against obvious dangers, there are some we're sure you haven't thought of yet.

With six
kids, Lyssha and Jake Bowden know a thing or two about child-proofing. "Any toy
that has loose parts, small parts, electric outlets" said the Bowdens. Even
with all that caution Tino, their only son, proved that boys will be boys when
he swallowed 16 tiny craft magnets and was in the E.R. within an hour. Jake
Bowden said "when we saw the x-ray, we actually saw that a couple days prior,
he'd also been eating magnets along with a Christmas tree light fuse that was
down there." Once swallowed, magnets can attract and "glue" the esophagus,
stomach, or small bowel tissue together. Dr. Manoochehr Karjoo, a pediatric gastroenterologist said "they need
surgery because they are very tight together."

Another
danger: swallowing just one mouthful of baby oil can cause lung inflammation
and death and ingesting Visine can cause breathing problems and seizures. Also,
just a few teaspoons of hand sanitizer can cause alcohol poisoning in kids. Dr.
Karjoo added "I know they warn on the box, but when the danger's in the house,
all the kids, they have access to it." Finally, batteries. from 1997 to 2010,
more than 40,000 kids were treated in the E.R. for battery ingestion. Pediatric
Gastroenterologist, Dr. Sangeeta Bhargava said "if they get stuck in the
esophagus, they can do damage very, very quickly."

Dr.
Bhargava says the bottom line is "caution, caution, caution," it may just save
your child's life. Doctor Bhargava also says loose computer cables and wires are
also a strangulation hazard and that you should make sure these are tied
properly. She adds that pennies are the most common item she sees kids ingest
and they will often pass on their own, but the coins can get stuck in the
esophagus.